Capture Ligand Controls, Blocking Probes, Masking Probes and Methods of Using the Same

ABSTRACT

The invention, depending on aspect and embodiment, relates to capture probe controls, and capture and signal probe configurations and combinations of configurations that can facilitate accurate and efficient multiplex analyte detection, especially in electrochemical detection schemes.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference inits entirety, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/255,713,filed Oct. 28, 2009 and entitled “AMPDETECT.”

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY

The sequence listing contained in the file named “12914257seqlist.txt”,created on Mar. 3, 2011 and having a size of 3 kilobytes, has beensubmitted electronically herewith via EFS-Web, and the contents of thetxt file are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

GOVERNMENT SPONSORSHIP

None.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention, depending on aspect and embodiment, relates to captureprobe controls, and capture and signal probe configurations andcombinations of configurations that can facilitate accurate andefficient multiplex analyte detection, especially in electrochemicaldetection schemes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In vitro diagnostic assays are a burgeoning, increasingly sophisticated,field in the health care industry. Many such assays rely on affinity orcapture probe deposition to a solid support, followed by incubation witha sample suspected of containing an analyte of interest thatspecifically binds to the capture probe.

The binding event is then signaled through use of a label of some sort,e.g., colorimetric, radioactive, or electronic. The label can becovalently or noncovalently bound directly or indirectly to a bindingpair complement probe, e.g., a capture probe (or, in sandwich assayconfigurations, a signal probe). In some assays configurations, it canalso be attached to analyte before binding to a capture probe, e.g., asin label incorporated into PCR amplified nucleic acid analyte. Inelectrochemical detection schemes the probe or signal can also be basedon the establishment and subsequent perturbation of an electronicproperty, such as a field or charge potential or current, e.g., as occurin various field effect transistor (FET)-based, surfaceplasmon-resonance (SPR)-based, and redox-based detection schemes.Electronic-based signaling schemes typically employ electrodes, andthese and other signaling schemes are all well-known in the art.

Applicants' commercial eSensor® XT-8 system (GenMark Diagnostics, Inc.;Carlsbad, Calif., USA) is a redox-based electronic detection scheme thatmakes use of AC/DC voltammetry. Specific technology embodied inApplicants' system is described in detail in exclusively-licensed U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,258,545 and 6,071,699, commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos.7,056,669, 6,740,518, 6,761,816, 7,534,331, 6,960,467, and 6,875,619,and commonly-owned PCTUS08/54136 (published as WO2008101196), thecontents of each of which are herein incorporated by reference.Applicants currently offer a variety of multiplex human genotypingassays for use the eSensor® XT-8 system and are working to develop andcommercialize multiplex infectious disease testing assays on the sameplatform.

Infectious disease testing by nature typically generates a much higherpercentage of negative results. For a multiplex array-based electronicdetection platform such as Applicants' eSensor® XT-8 system, this meansthat most detection electrodes return no signal in any given infectiousdisease panel test.

It has not heretofore been possible in Applicants' system to distinguisha non-signaling electrode caused by a true negative sample from amalfunctioning electrode resulting from compromised capture probeintegrity or a manufacturing-related problem such as a failure toproperly spot capture probe. Moreover, multiplex genotyping systemssometimes feature background signal or noise attributable to adjacentsequence variations that can occur concomitantly with a sequence orresidue of interest to be interrogated.

The present invention, depending on aspect and embodiment, addresseseither or both of these deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention, depending on aspect and embodiment, relates to padcontrols, masking signal probes, and blocking capture probes—all ofwhich find particular merit in electronic detection schemes, but whichmay also benefit other types of detection assay systems.

In a first aspect, the invention features a method of assessing capturebinding ligand deposition on the surface of one or more addressablesolid support detection sites by attaching one or more capture bindingligands to each site, at least one of which has a measurable labelthereon or that can bind another moiety, e.g., a nucleic acidcomplement, containing such label. The method includes detecting thatlabel as a control measure of the success of capture binding liganddeposition and/or integrity. In preferred embodiments, the labels thatare used are electron transfer moieties and the addressable solidsupport detection sites are detection electrodes spotted with captureprobe. In some embodiments, e.g., nucleic acid analyte electrochemicaldetection embodiments employing detection electrodes, the sites alsofeature an insulating self-assembled monolayer or mixed monolayer. Somecontrol embodiments can be stand-alone and feature no counterpartbinding ligand in an aqueous analyte sample; such controls can bejointly or serially spotted onto the detection site before or after thecapture probe that is specific for the analyte of interest is. Thesecontrols may or may not contain their own signal that is distinguishablefrom that which signals analyte binding. If the pad control label is thesame as that which signals analyte binding, a measurement is takenbefore analyte is added, and then after. If the capture binding ligandis properly immobilized, a signal will register, and depending onembodiment, either directly from that capture binding ligand, or elsefrom a surrogate second capture binding ligand. In some second capturebinding ligand embodiments, the label may be bonded to the secondcapture binding ligand complement or binding partner, which will firsthave to be added to the system, i.e., contacted with the addressablesite. In other embodiments, the ligands may have counterpart ligandssuch that a signal is generated from one or both of the bound andunbound capture ligands, and another distinct signal is generated uponcounterpart binding. One advantage of redox-mediated electronicdetection is that there is a variety of different electronic transfermoiety labels each having its own distinct potential that can beselectively measured or filtered.

In a second aspect, the invention features a method of discriminatingagainst a known interfering nucleic acid residue that may be present ina nucleic acid sequence of interest, e.g., in an analyte sample. Thenucleic acid sequence has a residue of interest to be tested for and themethod includes providing first and second nucleic acid probes eachhaving a label, with the first labeled probe complementary to thesequence of interest that includes the interfering nucleic acid residueand the second labeled probe complementary to the sequence of interestthat does not include an interfering nucleic acid residue. The methodthen includes adding a test nucleic acid sample and testing it for thenucleic acid residue of interest, preferably under stringentdiscriminating conditions. In preferred embodiments the labels areidentical, but they need not be. Preferably they are energy transfermoieties, most preferably ferrocene-based or ferrocene-derivativecompounds. The method might be, e.g., a genotyping, isotyping orexpression assay.

In a third aspect, the invention features a method of reducingbackground signal or enhancing signal to noise ratio in a multiplexelectrochemical detection assay system employing energy transfermoiety-labeled nucleic acid signal probes, at least two detectionelectrodes, and that tests for multiple nucleic acid residues ofinterest on a common nucleic acid sequence of interest. The methodincludes providing first and second detection electrodes each having oneor more nucleic acid capture probes attached. The capture probes arespecific for a nucleic acid sequence of interest that comprises twoseparated nucleic acid residues of interest, one of whose presence is tobe tested for on one detection electrode and the other of whose presenceis to be tested for on another electrode. The object is to minimize orsuppress both sequences being detected on the same detection electrode.The labeled nucleic acid signal probes can be of the same or differentredox potentials and each probe is specific for a different portion ofthe common nucleic acid sequence of interest, each including a differentnucleic acid residue of interest to be analyzed. The method includesforming hybridization complexes on the first and second detectionelectrodes under conditions wherein the signal probe specific for thenucleic acid residue to be tested for on the first detection electrodeis held in closer proximity to the first detection electrode relative tothe second detection electrode, and wherein that relationship isreversed for the second electrode. The method includes testing for thepresence of those hybridization complexes on the respective electrodesunder conditions wherein the signal probe closest to the electrodetransfers electrons thereto with greater frequency or occurrence thanthe signal probe that is further away. To accomplish this, the methodcan make use of one or more capture probes on the same detectionelectrode. When multiple capture probes are used, each is specific for adifferent portion of the common nucleic acid sequence of interest. Thenucleic acid sequence of interest can be unamplified nucleic acid orelse amplified nucleic acid, e.g., through PCR. In some embodiments, theelectrodes preferably have a self assembling monolayer (“SAM”), morepreferably a mixed SAM of two or more species, each species featuringdifferent chain lengths, conjugated bond numbers (if any) and/orsubstituents (if any).

In a fourth aspect, the invention features compositions and kits forperforming one or more of the above aspects and embodiments.

As the person of skill in the art will appreciate, any of the aboveaspects, embodiments, and variations thereon, including those recited inthe claims to follow, may be combined as appropriate within the spiritof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-C illustrate three different pad control embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows QW56 and QW80 electrode control signals at a range ofconcentrations.

FIG. 3 shows CVEV amplicon signals at different electrode controlconcentrations.

FIG. 4 shows diluted CVEV amplicon signals at two electrode controldeposition concentrations.

FIG. 5 shows QW80 electrode control signals at different CVEV ampliconconcentrations.

FIG. 6 shows N6 and QW80 signals generated from CVEV target mimics (N6)(FIG. 6A) and different electrode controls (QW80) (FIG. 6B).

FIG. 7 shows N6 and QW80 signals generated from different dilutions ofCVEV amplicon (N6 signal) (FIG. 7A) and electrode control MW1106 (QW80signal) (FIG. 7B).

FIG. 8 shows QW80 signals generated from electrode control MW1106 atdifferent respiratory virus/control capture probe electrodes.

FIG. 9 shows a masking probe scheme and why it is needed.

FIGS. 10A-C show the problem of spillover (A), followed by variouspossible solutions (B)-(C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Definitions

As used in the claims and herein, the following terms have the followingdefinitions:

A “solid support” may be anything other than an aqueous phase at roomtemperature and include, e.g., beads, gels, columns, column matrices,multi-titer plates, paper, membranes, printed circuit boards, or otherarray surfaces or supports;

The term “immobilize” or derivative term thereof, includes affixation,association or binding, whether covalently or noncovalently.

A “capture binding ligand” is synonymous with a “capture probe” or“capture binding probe” and is a compound that exhibits a relativelystrong or specific affinity for another compound such that it is capableof abstracting that compound away from a group of other compounds in amixture of compounds. The capture binding ligand may be a protein,carbohydrate, nucleic acid, small molecule, or any combination of these.

An “analyte” is anything that can selectively bind a capture bindingligand, and may include any of the same items or combination of itemsthat a capture binding ligand can include, although each need not be thesame or consist of the same for any given binding pair combination.Analytes may be natural, biological or synthetic, e.g., as in any ofsynthetic or other molecules used for drug discovery that manifestunusually good or specific binding affinity to a “capture bindingligand.” Both analytes and capture binding ligands may consist of one ormore different domains. Where these are nucleic acids, unless otherwisespecified, the terms “first” and “second” are not meant to confer anorientation of the sequences with respect to the 5′-3′ orientation ofthe target sequence. For example, assuming a 5′-3′ orientation of thecomplementary target sequence, the first target domain may be locatedeither 5′ to the second domain, or 3′ to the second domain. The personof skill will appreciate that complementary orientations between theanalyte and capture binding ligands are necessary.

By “analyzing” is meant measuring, detecting or determining thepresence, absence or composition of something.

By “label” is meant something that can signal or be stimulated to signalan event or the presence of a molecule or complex of molecules. Labelsmay include, e.g., dyes, radioactive atoms or molecules, redox-activecompounds, enzymes, enzyme substrates, nucleic acids, derivativesthereof the like. Redox-active labels come in a variety of differentpotentials that can be used, similar to the existence of different colordyes and chemilumiscent compounds.

By “signal probe” is meant a probe molecule that bears a label of somesort that can bind to and signal the presence of analyte. Preferredembodiments are ferrocene and ferrocene-derivative bearing nucleicacids, which bind to one domain of analyte while another domain of theanalyte binds to the capture binding ligand on a solid support surfacesite (configurations known colloquially as “sandwich assays”).

By “redox-active” compound or moiety is meant one capable oftransferring, shuttling or receiving electrons from another redox-activecompound. Preferred redox-active compounds include electrodes andmetallocenes, for the latter preferably ferrocenes and derivativesthereof.

By “array” is meant a plurality of distinct sites bearing differentcapture binding ligands. The array is preferably “addressable” insofaras the individual sites have a predetermined or determinable locationrelative to one another, optionally with the help of electronicconnectors and/or software.

By “blocking probe” is meant a nucleic acid sequence that prevents acertain type of background electronic signal from being generated byfixing its complement signal probe at a non-signaling distance from adetection electrode. See, e.g., FIG. 10. The figure shows insolubleforms/schemes of blocking “capture” probes. As the person of skill willalso appreciate, [a] soluble blocking probe(s) can also be used ifit/they bind(s) more tightly or with greater frequency relative to theundesired signal probe(s) that is not intended to be measured (produce“signal spillover” on a given electrode). For example, peptide nucleicacids are known to bind more tightly, and/or one could use longernatural “blocker” sequences that overall have a higher meltingtemperature (TM) than the undesired signal probe and/or one could supplymore of the “cold” blocker(s) relative to the undesired signal probe(s)that would otherwise create “spillover” (outcompete them kineticallyand/or thermodynamically).

By “masking probe” is meant a signal probe nucleic acid species that hasaffinity not just for the interrogation sequence of interest, but alsofor a neighboring sequence variation as well, such as to allow overallsignaling in the presence or absence of the neighboring sequencevariation. See, e.g., FIG. 9.

By “infectious disease” is meant one bottomed in the presence of aninfectious disease marker, agent or target, whether it be viral,bacterial or fungal. Illustrative infectious diseases targets include,e.g., natural, synthetic or amplified biomolecules such as: (1) viruses,including but not limited to, orthomyxoviruses, (e.g. influenza virus),paramyxoviruses (e.g respiratory syncytial virus, mumps virus, measlesvirus), adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, metapneumoviruses, coronaviruses,reoviruses, togaviruses (e.g. rubella virus), parvoviruses, poxviruses(e.g. variola virus, vaccinia virus), enteroviruses (e.g. poliovirus,coxsackievirus), hepatitis viruses (including A, B and C), herpesviruses(e.g. Herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus,Epstein-Barr virus), rotaviruses, Norwalk viruses, hantavirus,arenavirus, rhabdovirus (e.g. rabies virus), retroviruses (includingHIV, HTLV-1 and -11), papovaviruses (e.g. papillomavirus),polyomaviruses, and picornaviruses, and the like; and (2) bacteria,including but not limited to, a wide variety of pathogenic andnon-pathogenic prokaryotes of interest including Bacillus; Vibrio, e.g.V. cholerae; Escherichia, e.g. Enterotoxigenic E. coli, Shigella, e.g.S. dysenteriae; Salmonella, e.g. S. typhi; Mycobacterium e.g. M.tuberculosis, M. leprae; Clostridium, e.g. C. botuliniin, C. tetani, C.difficile, C. perfringens; Cornyebacterium, e.g. C. diphtheriae;Streptococcus, S. pyogenes, S. pneurnoniae; Staphylococcus, e.g. S.aureus; Haemophilus, e.g. H. influenzae; Neisseria, e.g. N.meningitidis, N. gonorrhoeae; Yersinia, e.g. G. Iamblia Y. pestis,Pseudomonas, e.g. P. aeruginosa, P. putida; Chlamydia, e.g. C.trachonmatis; Bordetella, e.g. B. pertussis; Treponema, e.g. T.palladium; and the like. In preferred embodiments the targets arehuman-specific infectious disease agents or targets, with the markers ortargets preferably being nucleic acid markers.

By “electrode” is meant a composition, which, when connected to anelectronic device, is able to sense a current or charge and convert itto a signal. Thus, an electrode is an ETM as described herein. Preferredelectrodes are known in the art and include, but are not limited to,certain metals and their oxides, including gold; platinum; palladium;silicon; aluminum; metal oxide electrodes including platinum oxide,titanium oxide, tin oxide, indium tin oxide, palladium oxide, siliconoxide, aluminum oxide, molybdenum oxide (Mo206), tungsten oxide (WO3)and ruthenium oxides; and carbon (including glassy carbon electrodes,graphite and carbon paste). Preferred electrodes include gold, silicon,carbon and metal oxide electrodes, with gold being particularlypreferred.

By “monolayer” or “self-assembled monolayer” or “SAM” herein is meant arelatively ordered assembly of molecules spontaneously chemisorbed on asurface, in which the molecules are oriented approximately parallel toeach other and roughly perpendicular to the surface. Each of themolecules includes a functional group that adheres to the surface, and aportion that interacts with neighboring molecules in the monolayer toform the relatively ordered array. A “mixed” monolayer comprises aheterogeneous monolayer, that is, where at least two different moleculesmake up the monolayer. The SAM may comprise conductive oligomers alone,or a mixture of conductive oligomers and insulators. As outlined herein,the use of a monolayer reduces the amount of non-specific binding ofbiomolecules to the surface, and, in the case of nucleic acids,increases the efficiency of oligonucleotide hybridization as a result ofthe distance of the oligonucleotide from the electrode. Thus, amonolayer facilitates the maintenance of the target analyte away fromthe electrode surface. In addition, a monolayer serves to keep chargecarriers away from the surface of the electrode. Thus, this layer helpsto prevent electrical contact between the electrodes and the electronictransfer moieties (ETMs; redox-active), or between the electrode andcharged species within the solvent. Such contact can result in a direct“short circuit” or an indirect short circuit via charged species whichmay be present in the sample. Accordingly, the monolayer is preferablytightly packed in a uniform layer on the electrode surface, such that aminimum of “holes” exist. The monolayer can thus serve as a physicalbarrier to block solvent and undesired signal (“noise”) accessibility tothe electrode.

I. Pad Controls

These are expected to find the greatest utility in electrochemicaldetection applications but can apply to other detection schemes as well.The general principle is illustrated in FIG. 1: Pad Controls verifycapture probe (2) deposition and/or integrity on the electrode surface(1) by using a redox moiety (4 a, 5 a and/or 2 c) fastened directly orindirectly via hybridization to the capture probe or a second surrogate“dummy” capture probe (4). The success of deposition is gauged by thepresence or absence of that signal. This is important because previouslyit has not been possible to distinguish a non-signaling electrode thatis caused by a true negative sample from a malfunctioning electrode thatresults e.g., from a manufacturing-related problem such as failure toeffectively spot the capture probe on the electrode.

To solve this problem the redox moiety or moieties (4 a, 5 a and/or 2 c)are attached as for signal probes (6), which labels can be introduced ateither terminus or anywhere in the middle of the sequence, and thenspotted onto the electrode (1) surface by conventional means asdescribed above. In dummy capture probe strategies (FIG. 1A), one canalso leave the signal off the dummy capture probe itself and instead usea signal probe (5) that is specific for the dummy capture probe, andthat contains its own label (5 a). Regardless of the specific padcontrol scheme chosen (FIG. 1A, 1B or 1C), the control label (4 a, 5 aand/or 2 c) is preferably of a different potential than thecorresponding signal probe (6) signal (6 a) to be detected on thatelectrode surface and, in the instance of the label being a part of asignal probe (5) specific for a dummy capture probe (4), the sequence ofthe capture probe should preferably not cross-hybridize with any othersequences on the platform save the signal probe that is specific for thedummy capture probe. Example 1 speaks further to the concept and itsapplications.

In each of FIGS. 1A-C, the target (3), which could be synonymous with aPCR amplicon sequence in nucleic acid embodiments, has a portion (3 b)which binds or hybridizes specifically to a desired signal probe (6), aportion (3 a) which binds or hybridizes to a corresponding capture probeportion (2 b) and optionally one or more portions flanking that, e.g.,(3 c; see also 3 d in FIG. 10). Linkers (2 a) preferably link, join orbond the capture probe (2) to the electrode surface (1). As pictured,the labeled portions or labels (6 a, 5 a, 4 a, 2 c) look to be separateentities, but in reality can be conjugated or internal to the probeitself (6, 5, 4, 2) e.g., as a feature of the probe's synthesis orpost-synthesis, e.g., in the instance of DNA probe synthesis/labelattachment. Not pictured is a self-assembled monolayer (SAM), which isalso attached to the electrode surface in preferred embodiments via oneor more linkers in similar format to the capture probe linkers (2 a),and which serves to prevent or lessen undesired electron transfer events(“noise”) to the electrode surface.

II. Masking Probes

The masking probe concept is illustrated with respect to FIG. 9 andnucleic acid detection embodiments. Briefly, to guard against thesituation where there is a possible neighboring mutation to the one ofinterest to be detected, and were such neighboring sequence indeed to bepresent, it might interfere with binding and hence proper signaling. Toaddress this, one supplies two labeled probes, one with and one withoutthe undesirable neighboring mutation or sequence deviation, such thatone of the signal probes is assured to bind the target sequenceappropriately and signal the presence of the residue or series ofresidues desired to be detected.

III. Blocking Probes

The blocking probe concept is illustrated with respect to FIG. 10 and“multiplex” electrochemical detection schemes on electrode surfaces,where different binding events and signals are intended to be detectedon different, but not the same, electrode surfaces. The problem isillustrated with respect to FIG. 10A. The target (3) contains multipleinterrogation sites (3 b, 3 c) that are separated from one another, eachto be tested and determined on a different electrode surface. Becauseelectrode signal is a function of proximity to electrode surface, withclose proximation to electrode resulting in signal, the undesired secondinterrogation site (3 c) should somehow be “blocked” (i.e., kept furtheraway from the electrode or else otherwise prevented from binding asecond signal probe (8) specific for the sequence or portion (3 c) thatis not to be detected on that particular electrode surface. This can beaccomplished using a variety of different schemes, e.g., as reflected inFIGS. 10B-D. In FIG. 10B for example, the capture probe (2) is oflengthened design to pin the interfering site away from the electrodesurface. In FIGS. 10C and 10D, additional capture probes (7, 9) areintroduced to accomplish similar effect. Soluble signal probes (beforethey bind) are denoted by 6 i and 8 i, with 6 i being the intendedsignal probe and 8 i being the unintended signal probe that is desired“blocked”. This particular Figure does not show linkers as per FIG. 1,but those too are preferably present.

Other detection electrodes in a multiplex detection system areconfigured reciprocally to ensure that they only register theirparticular site or sites to be interrogated, and not the unwantedother(s). For example, with respect to FIG. 10, on a different detectionelectrode signal probe 8 i may be desired to be measured instead of 6 i,and its electrode and capture probe are configured accordingly, etc.,etc.

IV. Probe Synthesis, Functionalization and Conjugation—Generally

Probe synthesis, functionalization and conjugation are all well-knowntechniques in the art, e.g., as described in the patents andpublications cited herein, and in the following handbook references:Kissinger and Heineman, Eds., Laboratory Techniques in ElectroanalyticalChemistry; 2d Ed., MARCEL DEKKER, INC., NY, N.Y., USA (1996); BiochipTechnology, Cheng and Kricka, Eds. George H. Buchanan Printing Company,Bridgeport, N.J. (2001); Bard and Faulkner, Eds., ElectrochemicalMethods: Fundamentals and Applications, 2d Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,Hoboken, N.J., USA (2001); Microarrays: Preparation, Microfluidics,Detection Methods, and Biological Applications, K. Dill et al., Eds.,Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, NY, N.Y., USA (2009); IntegratedBiochips for DNA Analysis, Biotechnology Intelligence Unit, Liu and Lee,Eds., Landis Bioscience, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, NY, N.Y.,USA (2007). Each of the foregoing and the references cited therein areherein incorporated by reference for convenience and are illustratedherein with respect to nucleic acids as binding ligands and probes. Asthe personal of skill will appreciate, there is a whole body of readilyaccessible and implementable information for other types of bindingligands and probes as well.

Nucleic acid signal and capture probes are typically designed to becomplementary to a roughly 40- to 50-base sequence within the target.The capture probe sequence is usually complementary to the 3′-region ofthe target (but the reverse—5′—can also be true), and is designed tohave a melting temperature (TM) of 50° C. Capture probes can be modifiedeither at the 3′ end or the 5′ end with a disulfide linker for covalentattachment to a gold electrode surface, e.g., as essentially describedin commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,143 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,820,391,each of which is herein incorporated by reference. The signal probesequence(s) is/are complementary to (a) specific region(s) of thetarget, and is/are designed to have minimum TM(s) of about 5 to 10° C.below that of the capture probe. If sequence discrimination is needed,the sequence polymorphism should be as close as possible to the centerof the signal probe sequences, and the TM's of the two signal probesshould be as closely matched as possible. The sequence gap between thesignal and capture probes should be zero to two bases. Ferrocene labels(typically 6 labels per probe) are added to the 5′-terminus of thesignal probe sequence(s). Since all hybridization reactions must takeplace at a single temperature, the TM values of all signal probes shouldbe within a range of 5° C. Since all detection reactions must occurwithin the same solution, signal and capture probes must be designed toavoid any cross-hybridization; particularly between signal probes andcapture probes; maximum ΔG₀ values for cross-hybridization have beenempirically established.

Capture probes, including, e.g. nucleic acids, can be adhered toelectrodes or other substrate surfaces directly or indirectly,covalently or noncovalently, using a variety of well-known techniques.See, e.g., Ch. 13, Chemically Modified Electrodes, Martin and Foss, pp.403-442, Laboratory Techniques in Electroanalytical Chemistry; 2d Ed.,Kissinger and Heineman, Eds., MARCEL DEKKER, INC. (1996); BiochipTechnology, Cheng and Kricka, Eds. George H. Buchanan Printing Company,Bridgeport, N.J. (2001). In preferred embodiments, this is done bymixing disulfide self-assembling monolayer insulator sequence precursorsalong with a disulfide group-bearing 3′ or 5′ modified nucleic acidcapture probe as described above and spotting onto gold or gold-platedelectrodes. This is preferably mediated by a linker/functional group,e.g., W330, as referenced and described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No.7,820,391, or N150 as referenced and described in commonly owned U.S.Pat. No. 6,753,143. As the person of skill will appreciate, there aremany types of linkers available, e.g., as described in the precedingreferenced documents.

Linker N152 is utilized in the Examples that follow. It is a “forward”linker such that the disulfide attachment group resides at the 3′ end ofthe resultant capture probe. It is essentially N150 as described incommonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,143, but functionalized as follows toenable controlled porous glass (CPG) addition as a precursor to routinesolid phase oligonucleotide synthesis:

Synthesis of N152. To a solution of N150 (0.3 g, 0.45 mmol.) in pyridine(20 mL) was added DMAP (20 mg) and succinic anhydride (0.9 g, 9.01mmol.). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight.The mixture was diluted with dichloromethane, washed by 10% coppersulfate, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue waspurified on a column of 50 g silica gel. The column was packed in 1% TEAin hexane and eluted with 1% TEA and 3% methanol in dichloromethane togive the desire product N152 (0.3 g, 90%). ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCL3) δ7.23-7.49 (m, 9H), 6.86 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 4H), 4.22 (t, J=6.3 Hz, 2H), 3.82(s, 6H), 3.03-3.17 (m, 4H), 2.66-2.78 (m, 6H), 2.07 (m, 2H), 1.60-1.74(m, 4H), 1.29 (m, 27H); Arial. calcd. for (C₄₄H₆₂O₇S₂) 766. found 766.

Synthesis of N152-CPG-1400. A heterogeneous mixture of CPG (2.0 g, poresize 1400A), N142 (0.1 g, 1.0 eq.), hydroxybenzotriazole (20 mg, 1.1eq.), BOP (66 mg, 1.1 eq.) and TEA (0.5 mL) in dichloromethane wasshaken on a shaker overnight. The CPG was filtered and washed bydichloromethane (2×30 mL), and was transferred to another flask. To theflask containing CPG were added pyridine (8 mL), acetic anhydride (2 mL)and N-methylimidazole (0.4 mL). The mixture was shaken on a shaker for 2hours. The CPG was filtered, and washed by pyridine (2×30 mL), methanol(2×30 mL), dichloromethane (2×30 mL) and ethyl ether (2×30 mL). The CPGwas dried on a vacuum line for 2 hours. The loading of desired N152-CPGwas 30 μmol/g.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Pad Controls

The goal of this electrochemical detection embodiment study was to showfeasibility using a ferrocene-labeled control molecule to generatesignal in the presence or absence of the amplified assay target toverify function of all target electrodes. The control is not wed toferrocenes or ferrocene derivatives as labels; any redox activemoiety(ies) can be used. Three possible methods for an electrode controlare shown in FIG. 1.

In method 1, the control molecule is a separate and distinct unlabeledcapture probe sequence that is non-homologous to any target sequence(analyte of interest) and specifically binds a labeled complement uponintroduction of that complement as part of the signal buffer. Thiscomplement binds at every detection electrode containing the controlcapture probe and is detected at the completion of hybridization,irrespective of the presence of assay (analyte) target. The controllabel is selected so that it generates an electrochemical potential thatcan be distinguished from the label used to detect the presence oftarget analyte—typically a PCR amplified product from a biologicalsample.

Method 2, by contrast, utilizes a directly-labeled capture probe andavoids the requirement of the direct target used in Method 1. Thismethod, however, requires that the label be introduced to the captureprobe spotting equipment—a potential source of contamination in themanufacturing line that may lead to non-specific background signalsacross different product lines if the same spotting equipment is use).

Method 3 similarly requires that each target capture probe be directlylabeled (not via a complement added later) and therefore suffers thesame drawback if the same spotting equipment is to be used. Again, thelabel should be different from the one used in the signal probes todetect the (amplified) target analyte of interest.

To examine the feasibility of the foregoing pad control possibilities,method 2 was selected in the following study. Two control molecules thatincorporated 6×QW56 or 6×QW80 ferrocene labels were prepared usingroutine DNA synthesis techniques essentially as described in commonlyowned application PCT/US08/82666 (published as WO/2009/061941A2 and U.S.Pat. No. 7,820,391). N6 is another label that can be used; its synthesisis described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,393,645.

(SEQ. ID. NO: 1) MW1105: (QW56)-T-(QW56)-T-(QW56)-T-(QW56)-T-(QW56)-T-(QW56)-N152 (SEQ. ID. NO: 2)MW1106: (QW80)-T-(QW80)-T-(QW80)-T-(QW80)-T- (QW80)-T-(QW80)-N152

A range of deposition solutions was then prepared each containing adifferent concentration of one of the control molecules; 0, 0.05, 0.1,0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 μM, in the absence or presence of 8 μM capture probefor enterovirus (CVEV), MW1341:

(SEQ. ID. NO: 3) MW1341: GTC-GGT-TCC-GCT-GCA-G-N152 

These solutions were then used to spot XT-8 cartridge gold electrodesurfaces with the layout set forth in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Electrode Control Pad Layout Capture Probe Control ElectrodeCapture Probe Electrode Negative Control 5, 6 CVEV (8 μM) 41, 42Positive Control 8, 9 CVEV (8 μM) + 44, 45 MW1105 (0.05 μM) MW1105 (0.05μM) 11, 12 CVEV (8 μM) + 47, 48 MW1105 (0.1 μM) MW1105 (0.1 μM) 14, 15CVEV (8 μM) + 50, 51 MW1105 (0.25 μM) MW1105 (0.25 μM) 17, 18 CVEV (8μM) + 53, 54 MW1105 (0.5 μM) MW1105 (0.5 μM) 20, 21 CVEV (8 μM) + 56, 57MW1105 (1 μM) MW1105 (1 μM) 23, 24 CVEV (8 μM) + 59, 60 MW1106 (0.05 μM)MW1106 (0.05 μM) 26, 27 CVEV (8 μM) + 62, 63 MW1106 (0.1 μM) MW1106 (0.1μM) 29, 30 CVEV (8 μM) + 65, 66 MW1106 (0.25 μM) MW1106 (0.25 μM) 32, 33CVEV (8 μM) + 68, 69 MW1106 (0.5 μM) MW1106 (0.5 μM) 35, 36 CVEV (8μM) + 71, 72 MW1106 (1 μM) MW1106 (1 μM) 38, 39

Relative signal intensities for each of the above combinations were thendetermined through the covalently attached QW56/QW80 labels. The resultsin FIG. 2 show the signals obtained in the presence of 8 μM CVEV captureprobe but in the absence of CVEV amplicon. A deposition solutionconcentration of ≧0.25 μM of either control was required to reproduciblydetect signal (˜5 nA) above background. At the highest concentration, 1μM, signals had increased to up to ˜15-20 nA with the QW80 molecule.

A second experiment was done to investigate whether the presence of theelectrode control molecule affected the efficiency of hybridization andsignaling of CVEV amplicon (below). The results in FIG. 3 show no dropoff in CVEV signal (N6-ferrocene labeled signal probe) across the entireelectrode control concentration range.

Next, an experiment was done to assess the effect of changes in CVEVamplicon and electrode control concentration on signal. Serial dilutionsof CVEV amplicon were prepared from 1:1 to 1:50 and analyzed on theXT-8. N6 signal was determined at electrodes modified with CVEV captureprobe only or with CVEV capture probe co-spotted with 0.5 or 1 μM MW1106(QW80) electrode control. The results showed the expected ampliconconcentration-dependent change in CVEV signal but there was nodifference between CVEV signals obtained at electrodes that weremodified with CVEV capture probe+electrode control or were modified withCVEV capture probe only (FIG. 4). These electrodes were also analyzedfor the QW80 signal generated by the control and no clear changes wereobserved between the highest and lowest CVEV amplicon concentration(FIG. 5).

These experiments showed that the electrode controls molecules can beco-spotted successfully at a range of concentrations (up to 1.0 μM) withtarget capture probe and generate a distinguishable signal withoutcompromising the ability of the target capture probe to hybridize andgenerate detectable signal from an amplified RNA target.

In order to investigate the other electrode control strategies outlinedin FIG. 1 cartridges were prepared that contained electrode controldesigns corresponding to Methods 1 and 2. Methods 1 (MW1449) and 2(MW1106) control designs were co-spotted with a different CVEV captureprobe MW1428 at a higher concentration than earlier studies (4 μM) inorder to obtain clear and reproducible signals from the controls. TheCVEV capture probe concentration was varied between 8 and 12 μM toinvestigate whether the higher concentration of capture probe enhancedthe sensitivity of the assay. The method 1 capture probe, MW1449, wasdesigned to have no homology with any assay targets. A complementaryQW80-labeled direct target for this sequence, MW1450, was synthesizedand added to the signal buffer at a concentration of 10 nM:

(SEQ. ID. NO: 2) MW1106: (QW80)-T-(QW80)-T-(QW80)-T-(QW80)-T-(QW80)-T-(QW80)-N152 (SEQ. ID. NO: 4)MW1449: CAC-TTT-GCA-CCG-TCA-GGT-CCA-GTG-N152 (SEQ. ID. NO: 5)MW1450: (QW80)-T-(QW80)-T-(QW80)-T-(QW80)-T-(QW80)-CAC-TGG-ACC-TGA-CGG-TGC-AAA-GTG (SEQ. ID. NO: 6)MW1428: CCA-AAG-TAG-TCG-GTT-CCG-C-N152

N6 and QW80 signals obtained in the presence and absence of CVEV targetmimic are shown in FIG. 6. N6 CVEV signal was clearly observed in thepresence of MW1449 and MW1106 although signal with MW1106 appearedslightly higher.

QW80 signals obtained from MW1106 ranged between ˜10-50 nAmps and werenot affected by the presence of the target mimic. Similarly, QW80signals generated by MW1449/M1450 hybrid pair were similar in thepresence or absence of the target mimic but overall signals were higherthan with MW1106 (˜75-200 nAmps).

Overall, this experiment showed that both electrode control methods 1and 2 generated sufficient signal for their intended purpose withoutcompromising target mimic-mediated N6 CVEV signal probe signal.

A follow-up experiment was done to analyze different dilutions of CVEVamplicon (coxsackie B5: 1:1, 1:10, 1:100) and electrode control signalsin the presence or absence of CVEV capture probe (8 μM or 12 μM depo.concentration) and electrode control molecule MW1106. The results (FIG.7) showed that CVEV N6 signal was not altered in the presence of theelectrode control at 1:1 or 1:10 dilutions (the 1:100 dilution generatedvery low signal under any condition). N6 signals were slightly higher atthe electrodes corresponding to 12 μM CVEV capture probe depositionsolutions.

QW80 (electrode control) signals were clearly detected across thedifferent cartridges and electrodes (range ˜10-90 nAmps) and were notimpacted by the presence of CVEV amplicon.

In a next round of experiments cartridges were spotted with captureprobes for 18 respiratory viruses and 4 controls. All capture probeswere spotted at 12 μM concentration in the presence of 4 μM electrodecontrol MW1106 (Method 2, FIG. 1).

The electrode control signal (QW80) generated from multiple cartridgeswas analyzed (5000 data points) and the distribution of signal acrossall target electrodes is shown in FIG. 8.

The average QW80 signal was 27.2 nAmps (SD=15.2). The voltammogramsproduced from the 62 lowest signaling electrodes (0-1 nAmps) werevisually analyzed to determine the cause of the low signals and thisindicated that all electrodes were not functional due to e.g. electricalconnection failure at the electrode. However, of the 62 failedelectrodes, only 11 generated a reported error message that would removeit from the data analysis process. Thus the low signals from theremaining 51 electrodes would be included in the data analysis processand potentially generate false results in the assay. However, when aminimum acceptable cut-off signal for the electrode control was appliedto the assay (1 nAmp in this example) all 62 failed electrodes weredetected and removed from the data analysis process. Thus the chance ofproducing false results from these non-functioning electrodes waseliminated due to the inclusion of an electrode control in the assay.

Example 2 Masking Signal Probes

The masking signal probe concept is demonstrated with reference to FIG.9. This can be, though need not be, combined with the other inventionaspects. As discussed above, masking signal probes mask the affect of aninterfering mutation on the detection of one or more nearby mutations ordeletions of interest on the same target nucleic acid or amplicon ingenotyping or target detection diagnostics. The solution is to provide,in addition to a signal probe that does not contain a sequence variationat the interfering mutation site, a second signal probe, i.e., “maskingprobe,” that does contain a sequence variation complementary to theinterfering mutation as well as the desired interrogation sequence orsequences.

The masking probe is labeled with the same label as the main signalprobe so that the interrogation sequence is detected whether theinterfering mutation is present or not. The masking probe does not bindwith high affinity in the absence of the interfering sequences, so itdoes not interfere with the ability to detect mutations, deletions ortarget regions on a substrate surface, e.g., an electrode surface coatedwith an insulating self-assembling monolayer and accessible bindingligand. However, if the interfering sequence is present, the maskingprobe binds to the entire target region so that genotyping is notimpacted.

When employed, masking signal probe concentration in signalprobe/hybridization buffer should approximate that of individual signalprobe species concentration, i.e., be in the range 120 nM to 250 nM, andbe accompanied by a buffer solution. GenMark has found that a finalsignal probe concentration of 1.91 M Guanidine HCL, 37.5 mM MESHemisodium Salt, 27.2% of a 10% Tween 20 solution, and 1.37 mM6-Mercapto-1-hexanol works best.

Example 3 Blocking Capture Probes

Blocking capture probes are illustrated with respect to FIGS. 10A-C.These find utility in ECD schemes where a piece of nucleic acid ofinterest (target, e.g., PCR amplicon) is too long relative to a singlecapture probe on a single electrode in a multiplex detection systemwhich is to interrogate multiple different sites within the same target.The blocking probe is complementary to a different portion of the targetsequence of interest and helps to keep the other interrogation sitesseparate and occupied such that they cannot hybridize with complementarysignal probes in hybridization complexes on the same electrode surfaceand thereby supply an interfering background signal. Typically theblocking capture probe sequence will have a stronger or higher affinityfor the interfering sequence such that the corresponding signal probe tothat sequence is outcompeted kinetically on that particular electrode bythe blocking capture probe. One or more other detection electrodes inthe multiplex system are, in turn, configured to interrogate the othersite(s) that are desired to be excluded from interrogation or backgroundsignal contribution on the first electrode.

When employed, blocking capture probe concentration in master spottingsolutions (used to spot and dry onto electrodes) may approximate that ofregular signal probe concentration, i.e., be 2.5-10 uM, or varytherefrom. For example, GenMark has found 5 uM blocking capture probeand 7.25 uM capture probe to be a useful combination. Such spottingsolutions also best include 17 uM CT105, 50 uM TrisHCl, pH 7.4 andRNAse/DNAse free water, or equivalent buffer. CT105 is a disulfidecompound that reacts with gold surfaces to yield a mixed self-assembledmonolayer (SAM). Its synthesis, structure and reactivity withgold-plated electrode surfaces are described in commonly owned U.S. Pat.No. 6,753,143.

All articles, patents and documents referenced herein, as well as thearticles, patents and documents referenced therein, are hereinincorporated by reference in there entireties, although the person ofordinary skill already has significant knowledge to appreciate andpractice the invention(s) using the guidance herein coupled with no morethan routine experimentation.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the presentinvention(s) is/are well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain theends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein.

The methods and compositions described herein illustrate preferredembodiments, are exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on thescope of the invention(s). Certain modifications and other uses will beapparent to those skilled in the art, and are encompassed within thespirit of the invention(s) as defined by the scope of the claims anddisclosure herein.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described, or portions thereof.

It is recognized that various modifications are possible within thescope of the invention(s) disclosed herein. Thus, it should beunderstood that although the present invention(s) has/have beenspecifically disclosed by preferred embodiments, optional features,modifications and variations of the concepts herein disclosed may beresorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications andvariations are considered to be within the scope as defined by thedescription and the appended claims.

In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described interms of ranges or Markush groups or other grouping of alternatives,e.g., genuses, those skilled in the art will recognize that theinvention is also thereby described in terms of any individualmeasurement, member or subgroup of members of the range, Markush groupor subgenus, and exclusions of individual members as appropriate, e.g.,by proviso.

1. A method comprising: providing a sold support; immobilizing a firstcapture binding ligand on said solid support; contacting saidimmobilized capture binding ligand with a sample suspected of containingan analyte of interest that can specifically bind to said capturebinding ligand; analyzing said solid support for the presence of twolabels, wherein the presence of one of said labels indicates thepresence of said capture binding ligand and wherein the presence of theother of said labels indicates the presence of said analyte of interest.2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first capture binding ligand iscovalently bound to one of said labels.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising: immobilizing a second capture binding ligand on saidsolid support surface, wherein said second capture binding ligandcomprises one of said labels, either covalently or noncovalently bound.4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: forming a complexcomprising said analyte of interest with said immobilized capturebinding ligand and a signal probe, said signal probe comprising one ofsaid labels.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said labels iscovalently bound to said immobilized first capture binding ligand, andthe other of said labels is bound to a signal probe.
 6. The method ofclaim 1 wherein one of said labels is covalently bound to a secondimmobilized capture binding ligand, and the other of said labels isbound to a signal probe.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said analyzingdetermines one or more electronic properties.
 8. The method of claim 1wherein said labels comprise redox active labels.
 9. The method of claim8 wherein said redox active labels comprise ferrocenes or ferrocenederivatives.
 10. The method of claim 9 where said redox active labelshave the same potential.
 11. The method of claim 9 where said redoxactive labels have different potentials.
 12. The method of claim 1wherein said labels are the same.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein saidlabels are different.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein said solidsupport comprises an array of detection electrodes each comprising animmobilized first capture binding ligand.
 15. The method of claim 14wherein said immobilized first capture binding ligands are different asbetween different detection electrodes.
 16. The method of claim 15wherein each of said detection electrodes comprises a differentimmobilized first capture binding ligand and an identical immobilizedsecond capture binding ligand.
 17. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising contacting said solid support with one or more of a blockingprobe and masking probe.
 18. The method of claim 1 that is a multiplexinfectious disease assay.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein saidblocking probe comprises a second capture probe and one of said twolabels, each of which labels is distinguishable from each other.
 20. Acomposition comprising: a solid support array of addressable sites eachcomprising: a bound first capture binding ligand; and a first label toindicate the presence of said bound first capture binding ligandregardless of the presence or absence of analyte; and a second labelthat indicates the presence of said analyte bound to said first capturebinding ligand; wherein said first and said second labels are optionallydifferent from one another.
 21. The composition of claim 20 furthercomprising at least one member selected from the following group ofmembers: signal probes, blocking probes, and masking probes.
 22. Thecomposition of claim 20 wherein each of said addressable sites furthercomprises a second capture binding ligand comprising said first label.23. The composition of claim 20 wherein said second capture bindingligand is also a blocking probe.
 24. The composition of claim 20 furthercomprising a detector for detecting said labels.
 25. The composition ofclaim 20 wherein said labels are redox active labels.
 26. Thecomposition of claim 25 wherein said redox active labels compriseferrocenes or ferrocene derivatives.